System and Method for Entertaining a Child

ABSTRACT

A customizable system for entertaining a child, and a method of entertaining the child using the system. The system includes a box and a plurality of entertainment items configured to be removably affixed to an exterior surface of the box. The box includes an interior surface that is smooth and defines an interior volume. The interior volume is sized and configured to hold the child therein for a play session. The exterior surface of the box is lined with a felt material, and the plurality of entertainment items are removably affixable thereto. The box is collapsible for compact storage or transport when not in use.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/853,808 filed on May 29, 2019. The above identified patent application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for entertaining a child. The system includes a collapsible box configured to removably hold a plurality of entertainment items on an exterior surface thereof, and the method utilizes the system.

Regular playtime is a cornerstone of healthy childhood development, and children generally need to engage in active and imaginative activities to promote their proper development. Many playtime and entertainment systems are overly complex, may be electronic, and may not be portable or easily stored. As such, caretakers may experience difficulty preparing these systems for use, may become overly reliant on electronic systems for entertainment and development, and may have difficulty storing these systems in a compact space when not in use.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a customizable system for entertaining a child, and a method of entertaining the child using the system. The present invention addresses this unmet need.

Systems have been disclosed in the art that relate to entertaining children. These include systems that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These systems are often overly complex, electronic, and/or difficult to store when not in use. In view of the systems disclosed in the art, it is submitted that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing child entertainment systems. In view of the present disclosure, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in structural and functional elements from systems in the art, and substantially fulfills an unmet need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of child entertainment systems in the art, the present invention provides a new and improved customizable system for entertaining a child, wherein the same can be utilized for entertaining the child.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for entertaining a child.

In one aspect, the invention provides a system for entertaining a child, comprising a collapsible box comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface. An interior volume of the collapsible box is sized to hold the child therein, and the exterior surface comprises a felt material affixed thereto. The system also comprises a plurality of entertainment items removably affixable to the felt material. In this manner, through removable attachment of the plurality of entertainment items to the felt material of the box, the system is customizable.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for entertaining a child, comprising providing a collapsible box comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface. An interior volume of the collapsible box is sized to hold the child therein, and the exterior surface comprises a felt material affixed thereto. The method also comprises providing a plurality of entertainment items removably affixable to the felt material, removably affixing the plurality of entertainment items to the felt material and placing the child inside the interior volume of the collapsible box. In this manner, before, during, or after customization of the system, the child can play and be entertained by interacting with the system and various components thereof.

In various embodiments, the interior surface of the box is smooth so as to be comfortable to a child when placed within the interior volume. In some embodiments, the plurality of entertainment items comprises the felt material on at least one surface thereof, such that a felt-felt interaction between the felt material of the entertainment items and the felt of the exterior surface may be utilized to removably affix a selection of entertainment items of the plurality of entertainment items to the exterior surface of the box. In some embodiments, the plurality of entertainment items comprises a hook material on at least one surface thereof, such that a hook-felt interaction between the hook material of the entertainment items and the felt of the exterior surface may be utilized to removably affix a selection of entertainment items of the plurality of entertainment items to the exterior surface of the box.

In various embodiments, the plurality of entertainment items comprises one or more groups of equipment selected from a group consisting of: firetruck equipment, pirate ship equipment, police vehicle equipment, and a combination thereof. The firetruck equipment may include, for example, one or more of a steering wheel, a wheel, a ladder, an axe, a badge, a headlight, and a grill. The pirate ship equipment may include, for example, one or more of a skull and crossbones decal, a steering wheel, a circular window, and a rectangular window. The police vehicle equipment may include, for example, one or more of a steering wheel, a grill, a headlight, an auto decal, and a wheel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that may be readily manufactured from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manners in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a system for entertaining a child, in use by the child to perform a method of entertainment.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a collapsible box of the system, collapsed and removably placed underneath a couch for storage when not in use.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the system with a selection of a plurality of entertainment items removably affixed to a felt material of an exterior surface of the collapsible box.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the system with the plurality of entertainment items removably affixed to the felt material of the exterior surface of the collapsible box, such that the system resembles a firetruck.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of various embodiments of the system, configured to resemble a pirate ship and/or a police vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the invention. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, there are depicted several perspective views of a system for entertaining a child, in use by the child to perform a method of entertainment (FIG. 1), in a partially configured state (FIG. 3), and in a fully configured state (FIGS. 4 and 5). A system 1 for entertaining a child 6 comprises a collapsible box 2 comprising an interior surface 3 and an exterior surface 4. Generally, an interior volume of the collapsible box 2 is sized to hold the child 6 therein, and the exterior surface 4 comprises a felt material affixed thereto. The system also comprises a plurality of entertainment items 5 removably affixable to the felt material. In the shown embodiment, the plurality of entertainment items 5 are removably affixed to the felt material. In the shown configuration, the system 1 may be configured for use in a method of entertaining the child 6.

Generally, the method comprises providing the collapsible box 2, providing the plurality of entertainment items 5, and removably affixing the plurality of entertainment items 5 to the felt material. To encourage the child 6 to play, the method may also comprise placing the child 6 inside the interior volume of the collapsible box 2. In some embodiments, the child 6 may interact with the system 1 and components thereof and may independently customize the box 2 of the system 1. In this manner, the system 1 and the method encourage creative play and effectively entertain the child 6 when in use.

In various embodiments, the interior surface 3 of the box 2 is smooth so as to be comfortable to the child 6 when placed within the interior volume. In some embodiments, the interior surface 3 of the box 2 further comprises padding thereon to provide additional comfort to the child 6. In some embodiments, the plurality of entertainment items 5 comprises the felt material on at least one surface thereof, such that a felt-felt interaction between the felt material of the entertainment items 5 and the felt of the exterior surface 4 may be utilized to removably affix a selection of entertainment items 5 of the plurality of entertainment items 5 to the exterior surface 4 of the box 2. In some embodiments, the plurality of entertainment items 5 comprises a hook material on at least one surface thereof, such that a hook-felt interaction between the hook material of the entertainment items 5 and the felt of the exterior surface 4 may be utilized to removably affix a selection of entertainment items 5 of the plurality of entertainment items 5 to the exterior surface 4 of the box 2.

In various embodiments, the plurality of entertainment items 5 comprises one or more groups of equipment selected from a group consisting of: firetruck equipment (FIG. 4), pirate ship equipment (FIG. 5), police vehicle equipment (FIG. 5), and a combination thereof. The firetruck equipment may include, for example, one or more of a steering wheel, a wheel, a ladder, an axe, a badge, a headlight, and a grill. The pirate ship equipment may include, for example, one or more of a skull and crossbones decal, a steering wheel, a circular window, and a rectangular window. The police vehicle equipment may include, for example, one or more of a steering wheel, a grill, a headlight, an auto decal, and a wheel. In this manner, the system may be customizable to a high degree to encourage creative play and imaginative activities.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is depicted a perspective view of a collapsible box of the system, collapsed and removably placed underneath a couch for storage when not in use. The collapsible box 2 is shown in a collapsed configuration so as to reduce a size or a profile of the collapsible box 2. The couch 7 includes a minimal space thereunder, which may be used to store the collapsible box 2 and the plurality of entertainment items when not in use. In this manner, a common space or another area may be free of the system when not needed.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and its embodiments with modifications as suited to the use contemplated.

It is therefore submitted that the present invention has been shown and described in the most practical and exemplary embodiments. It should be recognized that departures may be made which fall within the scope of the invention. With respect to the description provided herein, it is submitted that the optimal features of the invention include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly, and use. All structures, functions, and relationships equivalent or essentially equivalent to those disclosed are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 

I claim: 1) A system for entertaining a child, comprising: a collapsible box comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein an interior volume of the collapsible box is sized to hold the child therein, wherein the exterior surface comprises a felt material affixed thereto; a plurality of entertainment items removably affixable to the felt material. 2) The system of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the box is smooth. 3) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of entertainment items comprises the felt material on at least one surface thereof, wherein a felt-felt interaction may be utilized to removably affix a selection of entertainment items of the plurality of entertainment items to the exterior surface of the box. 4) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of entertainment items comprises a hook material on at least one surface thereof, wherein a hook-felt interaction may be utilized to removably affix a selection of entertainment items of the plurality of entertainment items to the exterior surface of the box. 5) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of entertainment items comprises one or more groups of equipment selected from a group consisting of: firetruck equipment, pirate ship equipment, police vehicle equipment, and a combination thereof. 6) The system of claim 5, wherein the firetruck equipment comprises one or more pieces of equipment selected from a group consisting of: a steering wheel, a wheel, a ladder, an axe, a badge, a headlight, a grill, and a combination thereof. 7) The system of claim 5, wherein the pirate ship equipment comprises one or more pieces of equipment selected from a group consisting of: a skull and crossbones decal, a steering wheel, a circular window, a rectangular window, and a combination thereof. 8) The system of claim 5, wherein the police vehicle equipment comprises one or more pieces of equipment selected from a group consisting of: a steering wheel, a grill, a headlight, an auto decal, a wheel, and a combination thereof. 9) A method for entertaining a child, comprising: providing a collapsible box comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein an interior volume of the collapsible box is sized to hold the child therein, wherein the exterior surface comprises a felt material affixed thereto; providing a plurality of entertainment items removably affixable to the felt material; removably affixing the plurality of entertainment items to the felt material; placing the child inside the interior volume of the collapsible box. 10) The method of claim 9, wherein the interior surface of the box is smooth. 11) The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of entertainment items comprises the felt material on at least one surface thereof, wherein a felt-felt interaction may be utilized to removably affix a selection of entertainment items of the plurality of entertainment items to the exterior surface of the box. 12) The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of entertainment items comprises a hook material on at least one surface thereof, wherein a hook-felt interaction may be utilized to removably affix a selection of entertainment items of the plurality of entertainment items to the exterior surface of the box. 13) The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of entertainment items comprises one or more pieces of equipment selected from a group consisting of: firetruck equipment, pirate ship equipment, police vehicle equipment, and a combination thereof. 14) The method of claim 13, wherein the firetruck equipment comprises one or more pieces of equipment selected from a group consisting of: a steering wheel, a wheel, a ladder, an axe, a badge, a headlight, a grill, and a combination thereof. 15) The method of claim 13, wherein the pirate ship equipment comprises one or more pieces of equipment selected from a group consisting of: a skull and crossbones decal, a steering wheel, a circular window, a rectangular window, and a combination thereof. 16) The method of claim 13, wherein the police vehicle equipment comprises one or more pieces of equipment selected from a group consisting of: a steering wheel, a grill, a headlight, an auto decal, a wheel, and a combination thereof. 